Evaluation of Medicine Prescription Pattern in Orthopedic Outpatient Clinics of Kerman Province, Iran

Background: This study was aimed to evaluate the orthopedists’ prescription pattern for outpatients referred to private clinics in Kerman province, Iran. Methods: In this study a total of 59,613 outpatients’ prescriptions issued by orthopedists contracting with Iran Health insurance organization and Iran Social Security Organization from the 1st May 2014 to the 1st May 2015 were analyzed for mean number of drugs per prescription, route of administration, drug category, drug names and the most common prescribed drugs. Results: Mean number of drugs per prescription was 2.48. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most frequently prescribed drugs (60.34%) followed by vitamins & minerals (53.88%), skeletal muscle relaxants (33.18%) and corticosteroids (33.0 %). Naproxen 250mg (14.29%) and diclofenac 100mg (7.5%) were the most frequently prescribed NSAIDs. Vitamin D3 (injection & oral soft gelatin capsule) was the most frequently prescribed vitamin & mineral (24.72%). Gabapentin 300mg (12.73%) and methocarbamol 500 mg (10.59%) were the most frequently prescribed skeletal muscle relaxants. Methylprednisolone acetate (10.48%) and triamcinolone acetonide (7.45%) were the most frequently prescribed corticosteroids. Anti-ulcer drugs were prescribed only for 4.11% of outpatients. Conclusion: NSAIDs, vitamins & minerals and corticosteroids were the most frequent prescribed drugs by orthopedists in Iran. The high rate of vitamin D3 and calcium prescription is a valuable finding for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; however, anti-ulcer drugs were prescribed lower than the requiered rate and this was a remarkable finding which increases the risk of NSAIDs /corticosteroids- induced gastropathies. Therefore, some interventions for improving drug prescription by orthopedists are suggested.